View report page

127
The orthodontic clinic at Acre Road maintained its high
standard in the production and fitting of appliances and 13.8 per
cent of all sessions were devoted to this specialised branch of
dentistry. Appreciation by the General Dental Services of the work
was indicated by an increasing number of patients referred by practitioners
for advice and treatment.
Further liaison with hospital consultant services in the
orthodontic field was facilitated by Kingston Hospital's invitation
to share their orthodontic laboratory and consulting rooms for very
complicated cases. Arrangements along these lines were completed,
with no costs involved to the borough and the scheme is now in
operation on one session per week.
Dental Health Education
4.8 per cent of all sessions were devoted to dental health
education, which meant that considerable time and effort was expended
on this very important subject; a positive approach to any health
problem being infinitely preferable to a negative one.
Maroh was dental health month and new poster and pamphlet
displays v/ere set up for a period of four weeks at each clinic.
The 'Apples for Schools' scheme was continued and helped to remind
the children of the importance of clean teeth and healthy gums.
During the Spring a dental health campaign involving dental
hygiene kits, films and talks was held and was again directed towards
the five year olds. About two thousand children were involved. This
is becoming an annual event and it is hoped that repetition of the
dental health message to children during their early impressionable
years, will ultimately induce a correct attitude towards oral hygiene.
Fluoridation
No action was taken by the Metropolitan Water Board to
fluoridate water supplies because one quarter of its constituent
authorities remained opposed to the idea. The result was that threequarters
of the children in Greater London, where the authorities
had agreed to fluoridation, continued to be denied the safe and highly
beneficial effects which result from such a desirable health measure.
The matter was again raised at the November Health Committee
meeting and a strong body of opinion urged that further action be
taken in 1973.